Ice making apparatus



H. L. HOWE ICE MAKING APPARATUS Dec. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 20, 1955 INVENTOR. MAM BY Jed Dec. 25, 1956 Hi HOWE 2,775,100

ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M II f1 E| E ll/ I/l/lllllllf/IIlI/IIIIIll/1111111 ,/J0 I" A I 60 III I 62 lil 'l 66 I INVENTOR.

Y MAM B Y WJM ICE MAKING APPARATUS Harlan L.Howe, De Witt, N. Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 20, 1953, Serial No. 393,431

6 Claims. (Cl. 62-107) This invention relates generally to an ice maker of the type used in restaurants, bars, or the like where a fairly substantial amount of ice is utilized, and more particularly, to an ice maker wherein city Water is circulated through an apparatus which alternately forms and harvests a quantity of ice. More particularly, this invention relates to an arrangement for preventing, in the apparatus, a substantial concentration of minerals of the type contained in the water used for the ice formation without an appreciable loss in the refrigeration ca pacity of the device.

Ice makers to which this invention relates include one or more ice forming elements either in the form of a tube, plate, or rectangular trough normally disposed in a vertical position, a refrigeration system for cooling the ice forming members, a tank containing water re ceived from a city supply, means for circulating water through a cycle including the ice forming members and the tank, and a discharge drain in the tank adapted to aid in the elimination of the excess water unused in the formation of the ice.

Unfortunately, in many areas the Water used to form the ice contains a substantial amount of minerals therein. As the water is circulated from the tank through the refrigerated ice forming members, some portions of it freeze on the ice forming members while other portions of the water, usually those containing the minerals, return to the tank. After a while, the water in the tank becomes rich in mineral content and very often the minerals are deposited throughout the ice maker, by virtue of precipitation, in such a manner that eflicient operation of the system is imperiled.

This invention has for its chief object the provision of an arrangement whereby the water which collects in the tank is substantially discharged at the completion of each freezing cycle. Apparatus of this general type normally utilizes a control responsive to the formation of the ice in the ice forming members which temporarily discontinues the water circulation and freezing process and energizes means to initiate a harvesting cycle. There is usually provided, in addition to the elements above enumerated, a control valve adapted to maintain a predetermined level of water in the tank, so that as water is circulated through the apparatus and turned to ice, additional water is permitted to enter the tank in order to maintain this level. As the harvesting cycle begins, the water throughout the apparatus unused in the formation of the ice drains into the tank and causes an excessive accumulation therein. At this point in the operation of the apparatus and in accordance with my invention, means are provided for substantially exhausting the tank of all water therein so as to prevent the accumulation of minerals of the type mentioned above.

The discharged water is used to cool the water which will ultimately enter the tank from the city supply as the freezing cycle is resumed, thereby maintaining refrigeration capacity of the system. This is accomplished by placing the discharged water, which incidentally has nite States Patent 2,775,100 PatentedDec. 25, 1956 a relatively low temperature, in heat exchange relation with the water being supplied to the tank for use in the succeeding freezing cycle. Other objects and advantages will be apparent upon a consideration of the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus used in the formation of ice and which represents an illustration of an arrangement of the kind to which my invention relates;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing an illustration of an arrangement for exhausting substantially all the water from the tank;

Figure 3 is a view in plan, taken along lines 33 on Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section showing a modification of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a View in elevation of a mounting member used in the modification illustrated in Figure 4.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the novel use of a siphon arrangement for substantially discharging the water accumulated in the tank of the ice maker at the conclusion of the freezing cycle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 an arrangement embodying my invention. A bank of ice forming members 2 are shown surrounded by an evaporator coil 3 of a refrigeration system including compressor 4 and a liquid-cooled condenser 6 connected to the compressor by line 5. Refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator coil from the condenser through line 7, which contains a capillary tube 8 for the purpose of metering refrigerant to the evaporator coil. At the other end of the evaporator coil there is shown a suction line 9 which conducts the gaseous refrigerant to the compressor 4. Accumulator 10 in line 9 acts as a reservoir for unevaporated liquid refrigerant en route to the compressor.

As is evident from Figure 1, the condenser 6 is supplied with a cooling medium, preferably, Water from a municipal system, by line 11. Also shown in Figure 1, is a tank 18 which is adapted to contain a supply of water for circulation throughout the system. A pump 19 feeds water from the tank to a header 21 disposed above the bank of ice forming members, through line 20. The header 21 is provided with a plurality of openings, permitting the water to enter the ice forming members 2 via dispersion plates 22. A deflection grid 23 is located at the bottom of the ice forming members 2 at an angle thereto so as to permit water to pass by gravity into the tank While guiding the ice to a bunker or bin (not shown). In order to maintain a predetermined amount of water in supply tank 18 while the freezing cycle is in operation, a float valve 23' is shown connected to supply line 11 by line 24. During the freezing cycle, water is circulated from the tank into the refrigerated ice forming members where portions thereof are formed into ice, and other portions are re turned to the tank by gravity. It will be understood that the water returning to the tank will be reduced in temperature by passing through the refrigerated ice making members. It has been found that normally pure water is frozen initially into ice so that the water returning to the tank has a substantially high mineral content.

Unless an arrangement is provided for removing this water periodically from the tank, concentration of minerals increases so greatly that minerals tend to deposit throughout the apparatus, causing a deleterious condition necessitating periodic cleaning, and in some cases, replacement.

After the ice has been formed completely in the ice from the header into the ice forming members is caused to overflow due to the presence of the ice which restricts further passage of the water. To accommodate the overfiow, pan 50 is positioned adjacent the top entrance of the ice forming members and serves to direct the overflow to a control means that terminates the freezing cycle and activates a harvesting cycle. While many arrangements may be employed for performing this function, I prefer to use the control arrangement shown in the co-pending application of D. E. MacLeod, Serial No. 171,593, filed July 1, 1950, in which the relatively cool water overflowing from the pan 50 is introduced into a, thermal responsive system including a thermostat which controls a switch that opens the circuit through the pump and closes a second switch that energizes a solenoid which in turn opens valve 13 in bypass line 12. This latter line is connected between discharge line 5 of compressor 4 and the evaporator coil feed line '7. The valve 13 permits, when opened, the passage of relatively hot gaseous refrigerant directly to the evaporator coil from the compressor so as to cause a thawing action in the ice making members 2, which removes the ice therefrom. At this time, the water which is in the header 21 and line 20, and the water which is present as a result of the thawing condition, enters the tank and causes an excessive accumulation therein.

As more particularly shown in Figure 2, there is shown a construction for discharging the water from'the tank which is responsive to the abnormal accumulation of water in the tank and which includes a drain pipe 30 which is in the form of a hollow cylinder open at both ends. The top end of the pipe extends above the normal level of the water as it is maintained during the freezing cycle. The bottom of the pipe is in communication with an outlet drain in the tank and forms in effect part of the discharge line 32. Surrounding the pipe 30 is a cap member 34 of a particular configuration which may be described as generally cylindrical. The cap is provided with an open end, a closed end, and a corresponding series of inward projections 38 extending throughout the length of the cap. The projections 38 are preferably four in number and spaced equidistant about the periphery of the interior of the cap. The parts are so arranged and constructed that when the cap is inserted over the pipe 35) with the open end slightly above the bottom of the tank, the closed end is maintained in spaced relation to the top of the pipe 30, and the innermost ends of the projections 38 are in engagement with the outer surface of the pipe so that the portions of the cap between the projections 38 are in spaced relation to the sides of the pipe. The parts are preferably welded at the areas of contact to prevent separation thereof.

As the water in the tank rises due to the accumulation of water at the termination of the freezing cycle, it eventually covers the top of the cap creating a siphon action which cifects a discharge of the water in the tank through the passageway defined by the cap and drain into the discharge line. As pointed out above, the water in the tank at the completion of the freezing cycle is water that was unused in the formation of the ice and has a high mineral content, the less concentrated water having been formed into ice.

During the passage of the water from the tank, the float valve drops to a position whereby it permits the in troduction into the tank of additional water from the supply line; however, the rate of flow of the supply water into the tank is considerably less than the rate of discharge ofthe water fromthe tank so that the level of the water in the tank will eventually drop to a point lower than the open end of the cap and discontinue the siphon action. The supply water then continues to flow into the tank, diluting the small amount of water that remains after the siphon action has been completed, until the normal freezing cycle level is attained.

Other constructions capable of acting in the manner described above will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

In order to provide a construction that may be readily removed from the tank when it is desired to clean the tank, the modification illustrated in Figure 5 is utilized. in this arrangement a rubber grommet 60 having an enlarged central portion 62 and two skirt portions 64 and 66 depending therefrom is placed in the drain opening in the base of the tank. The external surfaces of the skirt portions are each tapered in a direction toward the longitudinal axis of the grommet. When the grommet is mounted in the tank opening in the manner mentioned above, the tapered external surface of lower portion 64 is engaged by the discharge pipe 32 so that a wedging action, insuring a tight fit between the members, occurs.

The pipe 30 with cap member 34 mounted thereon is assembled about the upper skirt portion 66 of the grommet by forcing the lower end of pipe 30 into wedging engagement with the external tapered surfaces of portion 66. Preferably, the pipe is forced downwardly over the upper portion of the grommet until the lower edge thereof is in engagement with the upper surface of the central portion of the grommet. In this position the lower end of the cap is in spaced relation to the bottom of the tank so as to permit the siphon action required.

As the water is discharged from the tank, it proceeds to a receiver 49 where it is passed in heat exchange relation with the water being supplied to the tank. This arrangement enables the system tomaintain refrigeration capacity because the incoming water is substantially cooled prior to its introduction into the freezing cycle. Thus, it may be apparent that the disclosed arrangement prevents formation of a substantial concentration of minerals.

Other structural changes and modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an ice making machine of the type wherein a formation of ice is produced as water flows, under the influence of a pump, through a circuit including a supply tank, water distribution means, and a refrigerated member having an ice forming surface adapted to receive water from the distributor, means for withdrawing from the circuit, a portion of the water returning to the tank, said means including an outlet pipe in communication with the bottom of the tank, an overflowpipe, a cap secured to the overflow pipe in spaced relation to the sides and top thereof, and a resilient mounting member having portions in engagement with both the overflow pipe and the outlet pipe for detachably securing the overflow pipe and cap in communication with the out let pipe.

2. The combination described in claim 1 wherein the means for withdrawing the water from the tank is operable in response to a predetermined amount of water in the tank.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said resilient mounting member is provided with a first tapered end portion adapted to be forcibly assembled within the top portion of said outlet pipe and provide a liquid seal between the tank and the outlet pipe.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the resilient mounting member is further provided with a central cylindrical portion and a second tapered end portion for accommodating the overflow pipe, said second portion having a direction of taper opposed to the direction of taper on said first end portion.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein means are provided for replenishing the water supply after the withdrawal thereof.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein additional means are provided for passing the withdrawn water in heat exchange relation with the water used to replenish the tank.

(References on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Boyle Dec. 21, 1886 Burgum Feb. 4, 1902 5 Lowry Mar. 21, 1905 Morgan Jan. 12, 1909 McDonough May 28, 1912 Madden May 12, 1914 Coburn Dec. 21, 1915 Katzin July 25, 1916 Hall Nov. 21, 1933 Williams Sept. 25, 1951 Leeson Mar. 31, 1953 Heuser Nov. 3, 1953 Andrews Oct. 12, 1954 

